A love story set in North Karnataka

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Nanna Ninna Prema Kathe is an upcoming romantic drama directed by debutant Shivu Jamkhandi that sees Vijay Raghavendra and Nidhi Subbaiah pair up onscreen for the first time.

Major portions of the film were shot across North Karnataka, especially at locations of historical value.

The movie, which marks Nidhi’s return to Sandalwood, is slated for an early July release.

The trailer of Nanna Ninna Prema Kathe will be released today.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Entertainment> Kannada> Movies / TNN / June 18th, 2016

A Week of Revival at The Tamara Coorg – International Yoga Day Special From 17th – 23rd June

Bangalore : /PRNewswire/

The Tamara Coorg is organizing ‘A Week of Revival’ from 17th June to 23rd June 2016. During this event, a resource person will guide the guests to a healthy and happy lifestyle through the ‘Wellness and Lifestyle Workshop’.

The esteemed guests can also relish the enriching experiences of yoga with the in-house yoga instructor, wellness cuisine, spa, nature trek and plantation trail that are indigenous to The Tamara Coorg.

The Tamara Coorg is a resort cuddled in the greenery of Coorg and spread across 170 acres of functional coffee plantation. The aroma of coffee, gorgeous green nature along with the uniquely designed cottages weaves a conspiracy here to amaze the guests with its beauty, tranquillity and silence. Withstanding the pledge to provide an existence in harmony with nature, here it is with its yoga week again to celebrate the International Yoga Day.

Since its establishment in the year 2012, guided Yoga sessions for guests has been a major activity espoused by The Tamara Coorg. Yoga, as one of the major activities offered throughout the year with the luxurious stay, silence, and tranquility of the resort provides the apt backdrop and ambiance for dissemination and practice of this ancient discipline.

For booking, call: +91-8071077700.

For more information, please visit: http://www.thetamara.com/

source: http://www.prnewswire.co.in / PR Newswire / Bangalore – June 14th, 2016 / source: The Tamara Coorg

Interview with Ashwini Ponnappa: “We have the single-minded goal of bagging an Olympic medal”

Ashwini Ponnappa talks about her doubles partner, a favourable draw at Rio and much more in an exclusive interview.

Ashwini Ponnappa with her doubles partner Jwala Gutta
Ashwini Ponnappa with her doubles partner Jwala Gutta

India’s ace women’s doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa are slogging it out in Hyderabad under the watchful eyes of their Malaysian coach Tan Kim. The pair – ranked 15th in the world – have one goal in mind, to bag an Olympic medal. Ashwini Ponnappa talks about the pair’s prospects in Rio and much more in an exclusive interview.

Excerpts:

Q How are your preparations going on for the Rio Olympics?

We (me and Jwala Gutta) are training hard in Hyderabad under doubles coach Tan Kim. We are focused on doing well at the Rio Olympics. Keeping our fingers crossed.

Q What’s your take on striking a balance between taking adequate rest and playing tournaments in the run-up to a marquee event like the Olympics?

It is imperative to have a proper balance – we will play in the Canadian Open later this month and US Open in early July before we have a month or so of rest and training before we head to Rio. I think we will be recharged for the Olympics.

Q Both of you had played at the 2012 London Olympics – how much do you think will it help to already have gained the experience of playing on a stage as big as the Olympics?

Of course, the experience of playing in the Olympics will help. We have to be ready for any challenge in Rio as it will be a new environment and another Olympics for both of us.

Q What is the importance for a favourable draw at the Olympics?

A favourable draw at the Rio Olympics is something every player looks forward to and if you get it is an ideal scenario. But such things are not under your control and one has to be prepared for anything that comes your way.

Q As a pair, what according to you is your biggest strength?

We are a unique pair and also our left-right combination also helps.

Q Indian badminton is struggling to produce quality women’s doubles pairs after you guys – your thoughts?

I think a lot of encouragement and big push is needed to produce good women’s doubles players.

Q Realistically speaking, how do you assess your Olympic medal-winning chances?

Me and Jwala are putting in a lot of hard work with the single-minded goal of bagging an Olympic medal. We are straining our every nerve towards that.

Q You turned out for Bengaluru Topguns in the 2016 Premier Badminton League. Your thoughts.

The PBL was conducted very professionally and I hope it happens every year in the same manner.

source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / SportsKeeda / Homepage> Badminton> Rio Olympics 2016> Interview / by Suhrid Barua @suhridbarua / June 14th, 2016

Farming gains momentum in Kodagu as monsoon sets in

Intermittent rains and cloudy weather conditions over the last few days in Kodagu district have set the tone for the onset of monsoon, and agricultural activities have gained momentum.

The district received an average of 11.97 mm of rainfall on Monday as against 5.03 mm during the corresponding period last year.

Madikeri taluk received 22.95 mm of rainfall, while the taluk received 405.88 mm from January to May this year. Reports indicate that the rainfall has been uniform and widespread across the district. Virajpet taluk received 11.03 mm of rain on Monday, while Somwarpet received 1.93 mm. Hobli-wise rainfall statistics indicate that Madikeri kasaba received 17 mm, Napoklu 20.8 mm, Sampaji 13.4 mm, and Bhagamandala 40.6 mm of rainfall on Monday.

B.B. Pushpavathi, Municipal Commissioner, has appealed to people living in low-lying areas to shift to safer locations as there were forecasts of heavy rainfall across the district.

The inflow into Harangi reservoir was recorded at 258 cusecs as against an inflow of 119 cusecs the same day last year.

The Kodagu district information and publicity department said the conditions were right for the onset of monsoon in Kodagu and has buoyed the spirits of farmers and the agricultural community in general. Meanwhile, nearly 31,000 hectares of farmland will be brought under paddy cultivation this year. A release appealed to farmers to take precautionary measures against outbreak of various crop diseases by treating the seeds and saplings.

Maize is the second most important crop in the district and about 4,000 hectares was expected to be brought under cultivation. Fisheries will receive fresh impetus during the season and the authorities plan to distribute nearly 48 lakh fishlings during 2016-17 under pisciculture programmes.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – June 14th, 2016

Yami Gautam helps Gulshan Devaiah face his fears

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Most of us loves amusement parks and the adrenaline rush that the roller-coaster rides give us. Right? Well, but that’s not the case with Hunterrr actor Gulshan Devaiah. He is is super scared of such rides and can never seem to enjoy them.

Recently while shooting a sequence in his next film, Vivek Agnihotri’s Junooniyat, Gulshan had to ride a ferris wheel.

Since it’s a rom-com, he had to romance Yami Gautam sitting on the ride.

Being an acute acrophobic (fear of heights), things got extremely difficult for the actor. Gulshan got nervous, which could be seen on camera and a lot of re-takes had to be done. But Yami came to her co-actor’s rescue and whenever Gulshan had panic attacks, she helped him calm down. Gulshan couldn’t shoot with full confidence but Yami’s big support helped Gulshan complete the shot properly.

source: http://www.filmfare.com / Filmfare.com / Home> News / by Ushnota Paul, Deputy Features Editor / Tuesday – June 14th, 2016

How sweet!

Rohan’s choice

Bopanna and Paes can either aim darts at each other or play tennis to win.

Leander Paes (L) and Rohan Bopanna do not enjoy a coordial relationship. (Source: File)
Leander Paes (L) and Rohan Bopanna do not enjoy a coordial relationship. (Source: File)

Rohan Bopanna is a big Manchester United fan. He would know how Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham detested each other for 15 years, but got the job of scoring goals done. There were delicious slights that went back and forth and all the offence of the world taken, but there was also the silverware — a Champions League trophy, three league titles and an FA Cup — when all the mutual sniping was done. In tennis, there were Boris Becker and Michael Stich who haven’t quite come around to maturely sitting down over a bottle of wine and talking about just where things went wrong between them. But they have the shared doubles gold from the Barcelona Olympics, should they need an ice-breaker.

Hatchets need to be buried, and not always in each other’s backs, and Rohan Bopanna who finally graciously accepted the selectors’ pairing of him with Paes, can look back at those two precedents to realise that deep personal mistrust needn’t meddle with medals. Neither Paes’ 18 Grand Slams nor Bopanna’s 0 (though he has a final at the US Open) have added up to an Olympic doubles medal. Come to think of it, neither did Mahesh Bhupathi’s 15 and Sania Mirza’s 10 have any bearing on the quadrennial doubles podium. But since both Paes and Bopanna would like that medal very much, they could do each other the favour of playing excellent tennis, never mind the personal animus. A medal should be the highest motivation, and if it takes clearing the air with an incompatible partner, then Bopanna’s task is cut out, and clear.

There’s a lifetime ahead to snipe at each other — just ask Stich and Becker. But should they win an Olympic medal, people will at least be interested in watching the two greats throw darts at each other. Otherwise, in the Olympic scheme of things, doubles tennis will remain irrelevant.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Opinion> Editorial / by Express News Service / June 14th, 2016

Environment organisations to organise ‘padayatra’ seeking funds for Cauvery River development

Allocation of money for Cauvery River development on the lines of the funds for purification of Ganges River has been sought by environment organisations.—PHOTO: M. GOVARTHAN
Allocation of money for Cauvery River development on the lines of the funds for purification of Ganges River has been sought by environment organisations.—PHOTO: M. GOVARTHAN

Olirum Erodu Foundation has teamed up with Annai Cauvery River Protection Trust to carry out remediation of environmental pollution in the Cauvery River.

The two organisations have resolved to organise a ‘padayatra’ from Talacauvery on the Brahmagiri hill in Kodagu district, Karnataka, to Poompuhar in Tamil Nadu, on July 10 to create public awareness on the need for Central and State governments to earmark funds for Cauvery River Rejuvenation Project.

They have taken the expertise of Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to implement their action plan.

Pamphlets being distributed by the Trust lists a set of responsibilities of the governments that include a special drive for raising lakhs of trees in Brahmagiri range in Kodagu district for more rain at Talacauvery.

Stringent measures to prevent mixing of sewage and industrial pollutants into river water, strengthening of embankments and construction of check dams across the river to prevent draining of water accruing from monsoon rains into the sea; and formation of a separate ministry for safeguarding and developing Cauvery River.

Participants at the consultative meeting chaired by the vice-chairman of Olirum Erodu Foundation (OEF) D. Venkateswaran constituted Swami Ramananda, OEF chairman M. Chinnasamy; and secretary S. Ganesan, emphasised on allocation of money for Cauvery River development on the lines of the funds for purification of Ganges River.

A. Sridhar, Regional Project Officer (South India) with National Water Mission & Tata Institute of Social Sciences – Water Project, the special invitee for the meeting, joined other speakers in calling for nationalisation of rivers and linking of the rivers in the Southern States to begin with.

Suggestions for environmental remediation were also offered by historian Kaniyan Balan, coordinator of Erodai K. Sudakar, Secretary of Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam Subbu, and organising secretary Logusamy.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Tamil Nadu / by Special Correspondent / Erode – June 13th, 2016

Highest peak in Kodagu is now off limits for trekkers

Madikeri:

Trekking to Thadiayandamol, the highest peak in Kodagu and the second highest in Karnataka, has been banned temporarily due to the movement of wild elephants in the vicinity.

A herd of 10-12 elephants has been camping near the hill after escaping from nearby forest and have wrecked havoc by destroying banana, arecanut and coffee plantations in Yavakapadi, Marandoda and Chelavara villages.

Forest officials said they are making efforts to drive these elephants back into the woods and till then, entry to trekkers and tourists will be restricted. They said it may take some time due to heavy rains in the region.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bangalore / TNN / June 12th, 2016

Kodavas say no to new railway line

Madikeri:

Railway minister Suresh Prabhu’s plans to get Kodagu on the rail map has run into trouble with Kodavas asking him not to extend the proposed Mysuru-Kushalnagar rail line.

The project was announced in this year’s budget. Following an RTI query by an environmentalist, railways officials have revealed that there are plans to extend the rail line to Madikeri and Makkanduru, a tiny village 3.5 km from Madikeri. Alarmed by the development, Kodavas living in Mysuru and Kodagu and environmentalists, too, have started tweeting urging him to stop the extension plan.

The online petition has got 11,976 signatures. Railway minister Suresh Prabhu has responded to the petitions and tweeted that he will go through the project in detail.

Aiyappa from Kodagu working in Vrindavan Hospital Mysuru told TOI that the railway project connecting Kushalnagar has not yet got the green signal. He fears that the line to Makkanduru village will affect Kodagu district’s natural resources.

Petitioners Sundar Muthanna, Shristi Kukreja and Fehmi Mohammad have started a campaign through www. Change.orglink. They fear that the estates and forests in Kodagu will be with the railway track. River Cauvery which is the lifeline of South India is under threat, claims the petition.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Mangalore / TNN / June 11th, 2016

New web series set in Coorg mixes fiction with travel

New fiction web series set against the backdrop of scenic Coorg, about exploration of music by its protagonist, Nimrat, hopes to raise the standard of Web entertainment and content in India

A new web series, Nimrat produced by Bangalore-based film school and production house, Flash Frame Visuals Academy of Film & Television (FFVA) has stepped out of drawing rooms and coffee shops for its shoot and is set in the scenic backdrop of Coorg for the first season, followed by the next season scheduled to be shot in Nepal. This fiction series about exploration of music by its protagonist, Nimrat, hopes to raise the standard of Web entertainment and content in India. Producer and creative head Aditi Soni and Keerti Kumar tell us more about the leap of faith.

Shooting Nimrat in a Coorg forest
Shooting Nimrat in a Coorg forest

Q. Why a travel series for the Internet audience?

A. The Internet audience is chiefly in the age group of 18 to 40. If we read them closely, there is this new urge to travel among this generation. They want to explore places, explore themselves. So much so, that I know of people who have sold their houses to travel the world. So where everyone is reading and writing about travel, am sure they would love to watch it too.

The cast and crew of Nimrat
The cast and crew of Nimrat

Q. Why pick Coorg?

A. Firstly, it is a visually stunning place. Secondly we have seen enough of north being explored. When it comes to the south, all know of Chennai or Kerala but Coorg remains a fairly unexplored destination except in a few movies such as Raavan or Saat Khoon Maaf. Then, of course, it suited the script too. The second season will cover Kathmandu and the Himalayas. The main reason being that the script deserves those locations.

Work in progress at a coffee estate
Work in progress at a coffee estate

Q. How was the experience of shooting in Coorg?

A. It is the most stress-free shoot location. People there are more than just warm. They go out of the way to help you with the resources, locations to shoot and such. They are not very camera-shy, are of the happy-smiley face-kinds, and are ever ready to face the camera; in case you’re keen to get them to act too. The weather too allows you to shoot for long hours.

Q. Why a subject like Nimrat?

A. The visual content is slowly getting repetitive. It’s the same formula, which is being fed to the audience time and again. Now times are changing and so is the audience. They love to travel, they love journeys, they love explorations, they love strong independent characters…they love it all because they can relate themselves to all of it. And that’s exactly what Nimrat is all about. She travels to different parts of the country to collect Folk music as a passion. This is when her life entangles with the people in each locale that the stories begin to unfold.

Q. Where is it coming out?

A. It’s yet to be finalised. We are in talks with a few Mumbai-based production houses but would not want to give out a name before it is final.

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Four things to do in Coorg

1. Abbey Falls: This beautiful cascade of water lies deep in the forests of the Western Ghats. It is located 10 km away from Madikeri (the capital town of Coorg/Kodagu district). The misty, lush environs is must-see for every visitor.

2. Raja’s Seat: This seasonal garden on a hillock offers picturesque view of the sunset. There is also a pillared structure amid the exquisite garden, presenting sublime architectural beauty.

3. Estate trails: Coorg is known for its sprawling estates, especially coffee, with a few tea plantations as well. These handpicked trails of sprawling estates make for a popular tourist activity.

4. Elephant Camp: The Dubare Elephant Camp is located in Coorg, near the Cauvery River; here one can live and engage with rescued pachyderms, and tour the jungles of the area, riding on them.
Log on to: www.coorg.com

To reach Coorg (Kodagu)

Flight: Take a flight from Mumbai for Bengaluru, which takes 2 hours. After a stoppage of about an hour, take another flight from Bengaluru to Mysore that takes 45 minutes. Coorg is located at a distance of 128 km from Mysore that can be covered by buses and cabs.

Train: There is only one direct train from Mumbai to Mysore, Dadar-Mysuru Sharavati Express, which takes around 24 hours.

Road: Buses ply from Bengaluru and Mysuru to Madikeri. The route takes between 7-9 hours, depending on the time of the year and road condition.

Coorg

From Mumbai 1033.1 km

Overview: Coorg (Kodagu, also known as Kodava Nadu), is an administrative district in Karnataka. The district is famous for its coffee, plantations and its scenic locations.

Don’t miss: Some of the most popular tourist attractions in Kodagu include Talakaveri, Bhagamandala, Nisargadhama, Abbey Falls, Dubare, Nagarahole National Park, Iruppu Falls, and Kushalnagar (a Tibetan settlement)

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source: http://www.mid-day.com / mid-day / Home> Life and Style News> Travel News / by Dipanjan Sinha / June 05th, 2016